Why unit swagger is important

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. David Farrow
  • 570th Global Mobility Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Commanders have multiple acronymed assessments for unit feedback. The Unit Climate Assessment assesses climate. The Personnel Stress Indicator quantifies stress levels. The Unit Compliance Iinspection measures compliance with higher headquarters guidance.

The Operational Readiness Inspection evaluates operational readiness. Status of Resource Training System identifies equipment and manning levels. Against this crowded field of acronymed assessments, I propose an assessment of unit swagger - the USA.

First, let's define unit swagger. Unit swagger is the projection of competence and confidence within a unit. This collective self-assurance enables a unit to walk tall. While individual swagger in the military is a bad thing, unit swagger is a force multiplier.

In my proposed unit swagger assessment, there will be no stoplight colors or numerical scores. There will be no ratings of outstanding, excellent or satisfactory. Instead, there will only be the designation of UWS (unit with swagger) or UWOS (unit without swagger).

Visiting teams of experts are not needed for this assessment. No online surveys are needed. Instead, Airmen of all ranks conduct this assessment as they gather at informal meeting places such as in-garrison dorm dayrooms and deployed dining facilities, and they discuss whether their unit is a UWS or UWOS.

The U.S. Air Force is the world's greatest Air Force. To drive this point home and show organizational swagger, the Air Force coined the motto "No one comes close." Many of our Airmen joined the military after seeing this motto on the nation's airwaves. Basic training took these new recruits and introduced them to a world-class organization.

After technical training, it then becomes the first unit's responsibility to keep this "no one comes close" attitude burning bright in these newly minted Airmen. A UWS is able to keep that fire burning.

That newly arriving Airman probably will not know the scores on the last UCA, PSI, or SORTS - nor should they. But, that same Airman will know in an instant whether they are in a UWS.

After talking about junior members of the organization, here are some of the attributes more experienced members will see in a UWS.

-- In a UWS, retention rates are high. Members delay retirement and turn down highly desirable permanent change of station orders in order to stay in a UWS.

-- In a UWS, there are no A or B teams. Instead of practicing the commonplace "take care of the top 10 percent" technique, the UWS focuses attention on getting "one gear higher" from the rest of the 90 percent.

-- In a UWS, members are aggressive in advancing their ideas. UWS members believe their unit is the "Silicon Valley" of ideas for their profession.

-- In a UWS, members expect to be challenged with the "never been done before" missions.

-- In a UWS, unit swagger is done in a respectful way to other units.

Commanders still need the existing acronymed assessments for unit feedback.

Additionally, commanders need those assessments from the informal meeting places being conducted by unit Airmen of all ranks. This swagger assessment will help determine if the "no one comes close" attitude is still burning inside their unit.